Dispenser



July 15, 1930.

c. H. LUSH ET AL DISPENSER Filed Sept 18, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 July l5, 1930.

C. H. LUSH El' Al- DISPENSER Filed Sept. 18. 1925 Patented July 15, 1930 U-Niran STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES H. LUSH, or FREEPORT, AND HOWARD c. WARFIELD, or Mannion, NEW

YORK; SAID WARFIELD Assis-NOR 'ro sain LUSH DISPENSER Application filed September 18, 1925. Serial No. 57,115.

This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing semisolid or plastic materials such as lard, lubricating greases, butter, etc., but it is designed primarily for the handling of ice cream.

An object of this invention is to provide a sturdy, practical and reliable apparatus for dispensing ice cream from the usual containers in a sanitary manner without the use of spoons or ladles and thereby eliminating the possibility of the human hand coming into contact with the material dispensed with the consequent deleterious results.

A further object of this invention is to so construct the apparatus that the elements thereof which convey and handle the material to be dispensed are insulated from the surrounding atmosphere whereby a low temperature may be maintained therein without 2o recourse to separate cooling or refrigerating means.

Another object of this invention is to make the apparatus adaptable to dispensing materials supplied in cartons composed of paper or similar material without the danger of the carton or pieces thereof becoming mixed with the material dispensed and then distributed therewith. This will enable the elimination of the customaryA commercial containers composed of wood and sheet metal which must be repeatedly washed and sterilized with the sanitary condition thereof dependent upon such washing and sterilization which is not necessary when paper cartons are used since due to the cheapness thereof they can be destroyed after a single use.

A furt-her object is to provide a conveyor which is gradually and positively lowered into the material to be dispensed and which thereby ensures the continued operation of the device.

A further object is to provide means whereby the dispensing apparatus may be withdrawn from the containerv and contracted so that the removal thereof from anexhausted container and the application thereof to a filled container is rendered facile.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which will mold the extracted material to anydesired form so thatvthe` material will be in the desired shape for insertion intovthe retail cartons.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus embodying the above mentioned features in such manner that a selfcontained apparatus is secured of a construction that it may be readily and easily at` tached to containers and counters of the type now in general use. l

This 'invention also aims to embody the above mentioned features in anapparatus which is neat and `attractive in appearance and which is very compact in structure so that it will occupy but very'little space.

lVith. these and other objectsand purposes which will`be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of our apparatus, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully and particularly set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

y Figure l is a vertical crossmsectional View of the apparatus showing the conveyor and opeijatingshafts in fully extended position,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention as applied to an ordinary counter,

Figure 3 is a cross section and part plan view on the sectionline 3 3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-l of Figure l,

Figure 5 is a cross section, taken centrally and vertically, of the gathering conel and lower part of conveyor screw showing the various connections thereto, v

Figure 6 is abottoink plan view of the cone showing one knife lor scraper in vposition and the other removed,

Figure 7 is an elevation of the carton severing knife and guide, v Figure 8 is a section ofthe container showing the guide groove therein,` l

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective of the connection used between the various operating shafts.

Figure l0 is a central vertical cross section showing the connections between the telescoping conveying cylinders.

yrefer to similar parts throughout the several views ofthe drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 4 indicates lthe usual ice cream counter provided with the usual circular openings 5 into which the containers 6 are adapted ,to be placed. Supported about the perimeter of the opening 5 upon the counter 4 is acage 7 having depending armsS from the supporting horizontally disposed circular flange 9 which rests upon the top surface of the counter. The arms 8 at their lower ends are attached to the ring 10 which embraces and supports the container 6.

The ring 10 has a groove 11 vertically disposed therein which cooperates with the ex- .terior surface of a longitudinally disposed groove 12 in the container 6 in order to hold the container' from rotation. The groove 12 also has a further function which will be described hereinafter.

Upon the flange 9 is provided two spaced lugs 13 which serve as a bearing for the shaft 14. Upon the shaft 14 is pivoted the boss 15 which is provided at one side of the casting 16'. Diametrically opposed to the boss 15 is an opening 17 provided in the horizontal flange 18 of the casting 16. A bolt 19 is secured to the flange 9 and passesthrough the aperture 17 and is adapted to be secured bythe wing nut 20.

The upper surface of the casting 16y is provided with two spaced shoulders 21 and 22 upon which rest two spaced cylinders 23 and 24 respectively. The space between the cylinders 23 and 24 is adapted to be filled with a heat insulating substance 25 such as cork, asbestos or similar material.

At the upperportion of the apparatus and resting upon and supported by the cylinders 23 and 24 is a casting 26 which is also provided with two spaced circular shoulders 27 and 28 for cooperation with the cylinders 23 and 24. The cylinders 23 and 24 are secured to the castings 16 and 26 by any well known method such as the screws 29.

The casting 26 is provided with three vertical lugs 30, 31 and 32 which serve as bearings for the shaft 33. Upon the shaft 33 is fiXed the bevel gear 34 which is positioned between the bearings and 31.

Between the bearings 31 and 32' is positioned a collar 35 upon the shaft 33 and which is splined thereto by the key 36 so as to permit of sliding movement of the collar upon the shaft 33 but will prevent relative rotation between the shaft and collar. Upon the ends of the collar are secured the bevel gears 37 and 33. A bracket 39 is secured to the bearing 31 and at the outer end thereof is pivoted an operating lever 40 which has the end 41 thereof bifurcated so as to straddle the collar 110 is provided with a bearing in the casting 26. Y

Telescoping within the drive shaft arethe drive shafts 47 48 and 49 which are nonrotatively connected together by keys 50 and slots 51 as shown in Figure 9. In addition the drive shafts are kept from rseparation by means of the shoulders 52 and 53 as shown in Figure 11. f

Shaft 49 is provided with a bearing. in member 54. Below the member 54 a gear 55 is attached fiXedly to the shaft 49. The member 54 also carries the guidef56 which is adapted to slide in the groove 12 ofthe container.

The lower end` of the guide 56 is sharpened so as to form a knife blade 57 in order to sever the paper carton and to allow the guide 56 to slide in the slot 12. Attached to the casting 16 is a grooved plate 53 which is in alinement with the groove 12. The guide 56 is of sufficient length to span the distance between the plate and the container.

The gear 34 meshes with the horizontally disposed gear 59 which has attached to it drive shaft 60. Attached non-rotatively hut slidably with' drive shaft 60 are drive shafts 61, 62 and conveyor screw 63. These shafts and conveyor screw are'connected ktogether by the same key andv slot and shoulder connections above described for shafts 45, 47, 43 and 49. A packing nut and hearing 64 is positioned in the casting 26 for the shaft 60.

Concentric with the shafts 607 61 and 62 and the conveyor screw 63 and encircling the same at a spaced distance are the conducting cylinders 65. 67 68 and 69. The cylinder 65 is attached fixedly to the casting 26 in any well known manner and has an elbow`70 extending at right angles thereto and leadil* ing through the cylinders 23 and 24 and the insulation 25 to the exterior of the apparatus and is provided with an opening 71 which may be of any desired configuration so as to mold the material into the shape ltf ien are the collars 74 which are provided at the l?? lower end thereof with a constricted threaded opening for threaded engagement with the next lower conducting cylinder. As will be seen in Figure 10 the upper portion of the cylinders 67, 68 and 69 have an unthreaded portion 76 in order to prevent separation of the cylinders.

The lower cylinder 69 hasthreaded engagement with the collar of the cone gatherer 77 as shown at 78 and is secured'thereto rigidly by means of the countersunk set screw 79 although it is to be understood that any other form of fastening means may be employed. The gatherer 77 and the members attached thereto have a bearing 80 in the member 54 and directly below said bearing is a gear 81 which is adapted to mesh with gear 55. The gear 81 is rigidly attached in any well known way to the collar 82 vof the cone shaped gatherer 77 and preferably bears a ratio of 5 to 1 to the gear 55 so that the gatherer will rotate slower than the conveyor screw 63 since the driving gears 347 37, 38, 44and 59 are preferably of the same size.

The member 77 is in the drawings shown as constructed from a solid block of metal but it is to be clearly understood that the invention also contemplates the formation thereof from wood, or any other substance or material and also as being formed hollow from sheet material. p

Through the gatherer 77 and' concentric with the axisthereof extend a cylindrical channel 83 the upper portion of which is threaded as before mentioned for th-e reception of the cylinder 69 and the lower portion is adapted for reception of the conveyor screw 63 allowing the screw to extend to the extreme lowerY end of the member 77 and abut the plate 84 which covers the base of 'he cone shaped member and closes the channel 83 at the lower end thereof. lThe plate S4 is secured to member 77 by the countersunk screws 85. Y Y

In the lower end of the hollowshaft of the conveyor screw 63 is a plug 86 and which is attached rigidly thereto. Into this plug is screwed a bolt 87 which passes through an opening 89 in the plate 84 and which has a large head 88 so that when the apparatus is lowered into a container the head of this bolt makes contact first with thebottom of the container and will therefore prevent the knives 90V carried by the member 77 from in- L uring the container or scrapingrup portions of the paper carton when a paper carton is used. The opening 89is of sufficient size so as to allow the bolt 87 to freely turn and the head of the bolt 88 does not make a binding contact with the plate 84. rllhe only purpose of the bolt is to serve as a stop and as a trunnion for the shafts 61, 60, 62 and the shaft of the conveyor screw 63.

The knives 90 are secured to a ledge 91 formed upon the member 77 by means of knives into the conveying cylinders and into position for the conveying screw to operate thereon. y 1 Y The shaft 33 is shown with a crank 95 and handle 96 for the operation thereof although it is clear thata motor or other power device may be used for the operation of this invention. 'M

It will be noted particularly that the knife 57 upon the guide 56 vcomes into operation a small distance behind the lowest portion of the member 77 so that when a paper carton is used the member 77 has entered thecarton before the knife 57 severs the carton to perinit the guide to follow the groove12. The base of the member 7 7 has approximately the same 'cross section as the carton and'will therefore hold the paper carton after it has been serered closely against the wall of the container and thereby prevent it from getting into the path of the knives 90. By making the base of the size indicated it is evident that the container or carton will be entirely emptied since the knives can reach practically every portion of the container. y

The casting 26 is furnished witha circular shoulder upon which rests a semi-spherical cover 97- and which is secured to the casting by screws 98. The cover is provided with a slot 99 `for the lever 40 and an' aperturelOO for the shaft 33. These are the only openings n the lcover and it will be noted that' the casting 26 prevents air entering therethrough from entering the chamber Whichis open to the material dispensed. The opening 71 is also adapted to be provided with a cap or plug in order to seal this opening when the apparatus is not in use thereby thoroughly insulating the main operating chamber. The cap or plug for the opening 71 is not shown since the construction thereof is perfectiy obvious.

The container 6 issustained upon the ring 10 by means of a circularfbead 101 with which containers of this type are provided.

The operation of the device is as follows.

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The cage 7 is first positioned-in the opening 5 and secured ito Vthe counter in 4any desired manner such as screws'pas'sing through the flange9 thereof and penetrating the counter fitting into the slot 11 of the ring." Thedis` penser with the various shafts in contracted position and also with the conducting cylinders in contracted position is thenpivotally connected to the flange 9 at 14 and clamped vthe material to the conveying screw and then it will be conducted and forced upward to the outlet 71 tofwhich the retail cartons may be attached for receiving it. s

1 When the bottom f of the container is l reacliedor when forany reason it is desirous to inspect or repair the apparatus the .lever 40 is thrown so as .to bring the. gear 3T into mesh with the gear 44 and then by rotating the shaft 33 in thesame directiony as before the rotation of the shafts ,415, 47, i8 andy will be reversed and the entire apparatus will be withdrawn into contracted position in the Yupper portion. Then by loosening the Wing nut 20 the entire dispensing apparatus may be tipped and examined or a new carton or container inserted. s Y

In Figure l2, a modified form of gatherer is shown which is identical with that shown kin Figure 5 except'that the knives 103 are formed integrally upon the gatherer. In this form also it will be noted that the seats 91 are dispensed with. y l Y Various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the invention abovev set forth without departing fromthe real purpose and spirit thereof and it is our intention to cover by the following claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanicalequivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope. V

WV e claim zy 1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a container for receiving a plastic material, means for conducting said material continuously to the exterior of said container and rotatable means including a cone having channels therein for forcing said material into said conducting means.

v2. In apparatus of the class described in combination, a container for receiving a plasticV material, means for conducting said material to the exterior of the container and rotatable means including a cone carrying 3. In apparatus'of the classfdescribed in combination, a container for receiving a plastic material, telescoping means for conducting said material to the exterior ofthe container and rotatable means including a screw conveyor for forcing said Vmaterial through said conducting means. f

4. In apparatus of the cla-ss described in combination a container for receiving a plastic material, means for preventing the rotation of said container, dispensing means and means upon said containerand Ydispensing means for guiding said dispensing means while permitting rotation thereof.

5. In apparatus of the class described in combination, a container for plastic material and means for conducting said material to the exterior of the container comprising movable threaded telescopic cylinders.

6. In apparatus of 'the class described in combination, a container for receiving a plastic material, means for conducting said material to the exterior of the container com- .1 1 prising movable thieaoed telescopic cylinders and means for lowering said conducting means into the container.

7. In apparatus of the class described,

means for gathering material, including a cone-shaped member carrying knives, means for conducting said material and independent means for taking said material fromk the gathering means and forcing it through said conducting means.

y 8. In apparatus of the class described, means for gathering material, including a cone-shaped member carrying knives, means for conducting said material including telescopic cylinders and independent means for taking said material from the gathering means and forcing it through said conducting means.

9. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a container for receiving a plastic material, means for gathering said material centripetally including a cone-shaped member of substantially the same cross section at its base as the container, means for conducting the material and independent means for forcing the material through said conducting means.

lO. In apparatus of the class described, a removable container for plastic material, means for holding said container from rotation, a dispensing apparatus, and means upon said container and dispensing apparatus for guidingsaid dispensing apparatus Vwhile allowing rotation thereof.

11. In apparatus of the class described,a container having a. carton therein adapted to hold plastic material, Vmeans for removing said material, guide means upon said container and said removing means for said removing means and severing means for said cartonV to allow the operation of said guide means.

12,. In apparatus of the class described, in combination a container having a carton therein adapted for holding a plastic material, removing means for said material and means for severing and holding said carton against the wall of the container.

13. In apparatus of the class described, in combination a container, for receiving a plastic material, means for dispensing said material to the exterior of the container and means including collapsible shafts for lowering said dispensing means into the material, said lowering means operating upon the lowest portion ofthe dispensing means.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a container adapted to hold a plastic material, means for holding said container non-rotatably and rotary means for dispensing said material pivoted to said container holding means.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a container for receiving plastic material, means for removing said material, means forv lowering said removing means into the material and means for withdrawing said removing means from the material while the main drive shaft is rotating in one direction.

16. Inl apparatus of the class described, in combination a container for receiving a plastic material, means for conducting said material to the exterior of the container and means for leading the material to said conducting means including a cone-shaped member having channels and horizontally disposed knives attached to said member at the lower openings of said channels.

17. In apparatus of the class described, in combination a container for receiving a plastic material, means for conducting said material upwardly to the exterior of the container and reciprocating means for forcing said material through said conducting means disposed within and substantially at one extremity of said conducting means.

1S; In apparatus ofthe class described, in combination a container for receiving a plastic material, means for conducting said material upwardly to the exterior of the container and reciprocating means for forcing said material through said conducting means disposed within and substantially at one extremity of said conducting means comprising a screw conveyor.

19. In apparatus of the class described, in combination-a container for receiving a plastic material, means for conducting said material to the exterior of the container comprising telescoping threaded cylinders and means for forcing said material through said conducting means disposed within said conducting means and means for operating said forcingmeans extending through said conducting means. f

20. In apparatusof the class described, 'in combination a container for `receiving a plastic material, means for ,conducting said material to the exterior of the container comprising telescoping threaded cylinders and means for forcing said material through said conducting means disposed within said conductingmeans comprising a screw conveyor.

21. In a device of the class described, a cone-shaped gatherer having tubular channels therein and scraping means on said gatherer adjacent said channels.

22. In a device of the class described a gatherer having a central passageway, a conveyor in said passageway and said gatherer having channels leading to said passageway.

23. In a device of the class described, a gatherer having tubular channels formed therein and knives mounted upon said gatherer adjacent s aid channels and projecting part way over the openings of said channels.

24. A cone-,shaped gatherer having a central passageway and channels leading to said passageway and cutting` means upon said gatherer adjacent said channels.

`25. yA gatherer having a central aperture for the recept-ion of conveying means, said gatherer also having channels therein communicating with said aperture, cutting means upon said gatherer adjacent said channels and means for rotating said gatherer.

26. In a device of the class described, a container adapted to hold plastic material, means for removing saidm'aterial, rotating means `for operating said removing means and means for raising or lowering said removingA means while said removing means is rotating in one direction.

27. In a device of the class described, a container adapted to hold plastic material, means for removing said material including a gatherer and threaded'telescoping cylinders and collapsible `means exterior to said removing means for operating said gatherer and'said threaded telescoping cylindersf` 28. lIn a device of the class described, a container adapted to hold plastic material, means for removing said material including telescopic conducting means and means for forcing thematerial through said conducting means .disposed within said telescopic conducting means and operated by means disposed within said conducting means.

29. In a device ofthe class described, a container adapted to hold plastic material,

means for removing said material including gathering means, conducting means and means .separate from said gathering means for forcing said material through said conducting means disposed and operated from within said conducting ymeans and means for operating.saidfconductingmeans `and said gatherer disposed outside said conducting means.

30. In a device of `the class described, a container adaptedV to hold-.plastic material, means :for removing said material including Cil f forcing the material through said conducting means and collapsible meanseXternal to said gathering means .and conducting vmeans for rotating said gathering means and said conducting means.

33. In a device of the class described, means for gathering lplastic material, telescopicmeans for conducting said material, means for forcing said material through said conducting means, telescopic means for operating said forcing" means and telescopic means for operating said gathering and conme ans ducting means.

34. In a Ydevice* of the class described, for gathering plast-ic material, threaded telescopic means for conducting said material, a screw conveyor for forcing said material through said conducting means disposed within said conducting means, telescopic means for operating said screw conveyor and telescopic means for operating said gathering means and said conducting means.

35. In a device of the class described, a gatherer, telescopic conducting means connected to said gatherer, a screw conveyor positioned within said gatherer' and telescopic operating means torsaid gatherer, and conducting' means and telescopic operating means for said screw conveyor.

36. VIn a device of the class described, a support for a container, a screw conveyor disposed with reference to said container adapted to extend into said container, conducting means surrounding said conveyor and cooperating therewith to remove the material and means for causing relative vertical movement to one of said parts.

v37.- In a device of the class described, means for conducting materiaLa screw conveyor for forcing said material through said conducting -means and means for rotating said conducting means and said conveyor at different speeds Vof rotation. I

38. In a device of the class' described, meanstor conducting material including telescoping cylinders, means for forcing said material through-said conducting means including a screw conveyor and means for rotating said :conducting means andsaid forcing means at different speeds of rotation. I 's 39).v In a device of the class described,

means for conducting material including telescoping cylinders, a screw conveyor disposed within said cylinders and means for rotating said conducting means Vand screw conveyor oppositely and at different relative speeds.

40. In a device of the class described, a container adapted to hold plastic material, means for removing said material including a gatherer and collapsible means moving with said gatherer for operating the same.

4l. In a device of the class described, a container for plastic material, dispensing means including a gatherer, knives carried by said gatherer and means limiting the approach of said knives to the bottom of the container.

- 42. In a device of the class described,'a container having a carton therein for plastic material, dispensing means for said material including a' gatherer, knives upon said gatherer and means preventing contact of said knives with said carton.

43. In a device of the class described, a support, dispensing means upon said support, a casing for said dispensing means and means for withdrawing said dispensing means entirely within said casing.

44. In a device of the class described, means operating upon the top of the material in a container for dispensing material and collapsible means for operating said dispensing means. Y

45.` In a devicev of the class described, means operating upon the top of the material ina container for dispensing material and collapsible means for rotating and causing longitudinal movement of said dispensing means.

46. In a device of the class described, means for dispensingma'terial comprising cylinders threaded throughout their length of gradually increasing'diameter for conducting the material and means for operating said dispensing means.

lUJ

47. In a device of the class described,`

means for dispensing material comprising telescoping cylinders threaded throughout their length of gradually increasing diameter whereby the material cannot clog kthe same and means for operating said dispensing means. f

48. In apparatus of the class described, in combination a container, for receiving a plastic material, means for dispensing said material to the exterior of the container and means for Vlowering said dispensing means into the material comprising threadedcylinders operated by a gear carried by said dispensing means and collapsible means forrotating said gear.V l

49. In apparatus of the class described, means 'includingV helical ypassa-geways for gathering material 'towards the centre Vof a container, means for conducting said material including telescopic cylinders and means for taking said material from the gathering lli) 

